Animal Care Tech Note 

Licensing Changes Under the 2020 Licensing Rule 

In 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) 

published the Licensing Rule, changing the license 

application process and terms of licenses for dealers, 

exhibitors, and auction sale operators under the Animal 

Welfare Act (AWA). As a current licensee, you need 

to know how these changes impact you. Below is a 

summary of the changes. 

Transitioning From 1- to 3-Year 

Licenses 

The most significant change for current licensees is the 

shift from 1- to 3-year licenses. Before obtaining a 3-year 

license, you must demonstrate AWA compliance during 

an announced inspection. Once you have a 3-year 

license, you must repeat the licensing process every 

3 years before your license expires. 

To transition existing licensees to a 3-year license, 

APHIS randomly generated licensing cohorts. Each 

cohort will go through the 3-year licensing process 

as follows: 

 Cohort 1: October 1, 2021–September 30, 2022 

 Cohort 2: October 1, 2022–September 30, 2023 

 Cohort 3: October 1, 2023–September 30, 2024 

Until you complete the 3-year licensing process, you 

should continue to renew your 1-year license for $40 

annually using the previous renewal system. However, 

if your operation changes ownership, location, or type 

of activity or if your license expires because you fail to 

renew it, you must apply for a 3-year license as a new 

applicant, regardless of your cohort’s transition dates. 

The Licensing Process 

The licensing process is now the same for current 

licensees transitioning from a 1- to 3-year license, 

licensees that already have 3-year licenses, and 

new applicants. 

1. APHIS Animal Care will prompt current licensees 

to submit a new 3-year license application with 

a $120 application fee before your license expires. 

New applicants and current licensees who are changing 

licenses (see “Conditions That Require a New License 

Application” on the next page) must contact APHIS 

Animal Care to start the application process. 

2. After we receive your application, we will assign an 

inspector to initiate the licensing process. 

3. The inspector will contact you to confirm that a license 

is still required, verify the type of license needed, and 

schedule a prelicense phone call. We will process your 

license application fee at this time. 

4. During the prelicense phone call, the inspector will 

ask questions about your facility, including previous 

inspection reports; review relevant regulations; and go 

over what to expect and how to prepare for the in-person 

prelicense inspection. At the end of the call, if you’re 

ready, the inspector will schedule your first licensing 

inspection. If you need time to make improvements 

or changes, you should contact the inspector when 

you’re ready to schedule the inspection. Existing 

licensees must correct all non-compliant items identified 

during previous inspections, regardless of previously 

established correction deadlines, before you schedule 

an inspection. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. At the scheduled time, the inspector will inspect your 

facility. If you do not demonstrate 100-percent compliance 

during the first inspection, you may schedule up to 2 

additional inspections within 60 days. 

If you are unable to demonstrate 100-percent compliance 

within 3 prelicense inspections and in 60 days, APHIS will 

cancel your application, and you must wait a minimum 

of 6 months before applying again. For information on 

how to appeal a third prelicense inspection report, go 

to aphis.usda.gov and search “inspection report 

appeals process.” 

Changes to the License Application 

As a current licensee, you will notice some changes to the 

license application. Specifically, you must now provide the 

following additional information: 

 Total number and types of animals expected to be 

held or used at any one time during the licensing 

period, including whether overnight travel is part of 

the expected activities 

 Information about violations or animal cruelty charges 

filed against the applicant under local, State, or

Federal law 

Application Denials 

Under the 2020 Licensing Rule, APHIS can deny a license 

application when an applicant: 

 was substantially involved in activities for which an 

individual or business has had its license suspended 

or revoked, 

 has pled guilty or no contest to animal cruelty charges 

in the last 3 years or longer, 

 has made false or fraudulent statements to APHIS 

or other government agencies, or 

 APHIS’ Administrator otherwise determines the 

applicant unfit to hold a license.

Anyone denied a license can request a hearing to 

demonstrate why the denial should be reversed. The denial 

will stand until the final decision is rendered. If the denial

is upheld, you must wait 1 year before applying for a new 

license, unless otherwise ordered in the denial. 

Conditions That Require a New 

License Application 

The 3-year license authorizes you to keep up to a maximum 

number (in increments of 50) of animals at your facility. It also 

allows you to keep certain categories of animals. During your 

prelicense inspection, the inspector will evaluate you and 

your facility’s overall ability to safely house and care for both 

the number and types of animals you wish to be licensed for. 

Three-year licensees must apply for a new license when: 

 you increase the total number of animals on hand at 

any time above the authorized number for your license. 

 you acquire animal(s) in the following categories for 

which you were not previously authorized: 

● wild/exotic big cats and any hybrids thereof 

 (lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, cheetah, cougars,

 lynx, servals, bobcats, caracals) 

● wild/exotic canids and any hybrids thereof

 (wolves, coyotes, foxes, jackals, hyenas) 

● bears 

● megaherbivores (elephants, rhinoceros, 

hippopotamuses, giraffes)

● group 5 and 6 nonhuman primates (baboons, 

chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, etc.) 

Additionally, as with 1-year licenses, if your operation 

changes ownership or type of activity, you must apply 

for a new license. A location change may or may not 

require a new license. Contact your APHIS Animal Care 

inspector or email us at animalcare@usda.gov to find out

when a location change requires a new license. 

For More Information 

To learn more about the Licensing Rule, go to 

aphis.usda.gov and search for “2020 Licensing Rule.” 

To download a license application or apply online, go 

to aphis.usda.gov and search for “apply for a license 

or registration.” 

You may also contact your APHIS Animal Care 

inspector, call us at (970) 494-7478, or email us 

at animalcare@usda.gov. 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. www.aphis.usda.gov/animal-welfare APHIS-22-028 | Issued June 2022